title: Knowledge and attitudes about personalized mental health genomics: narratives from individuals coping with serious mental illness.
abstract: The present qualitative study examined the personal accounts, elicited via semi-structured interview, of nine United States military veterans with serious mental illness to describe their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about psychiatric genetics, genetic testing and counseling for mental illness. The aim of the research was to elucidate issues from the perspective of adults with mental illness that may inform the education and training of mental health providers on basic genetic counseling. Findings suggest that participants had some basic knowledge about genetics, were interested in psychiatric genetic testing, and had an awareness of both positive and negative aspects of genetic test results. Participants tended to have overly optimistic ideas about current advances in psychiatric genetics and were motivated to undergo genetic testing for the good of their families and to benefit society. Implications of findings for research and practice are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis VA Medical Center (116B), One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Potokar
authors.forename: Catherine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Olivia A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Darrah
authors.forename: Brent C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sponheim
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D023281:Genomics; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012306:Risk; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology